Changes In Societies Explain Why We Keep Voting On Casinos

October 10, 1996

With regard to the letter, "We're sick of having to vote against gambling time and time again'': I write to clarify some of the writer's statements about voting on casinos three times in 18 years. The beauty of the American system is that it allows and understands that societies change their political and social views, and that many times in our history, issues and candidates persevered knowing that they had an idea whose time could come.

The writer is correct that casinos will one day win, but not by "the big casino people" as she states, but by the people on a local or county-choice vote.

As for claims that people "do not want gambling in South Florida," allow me to remind her that Dade County voted "yes" for casinos in 1986, and Broward County voted "yes" in 1994. The writer said cities in the United States that have allowed casinos "are no longer considered nice places to go."You'll have to tell that to the Southern Baptist Convention, National PTA, American Judges Association and the State Legislators Convention, as they all have had their national conventions in Las Vegas (while we still wait for them in South Florida.)

As for the letter writer's hope that the Broward County Commission will find a way to keep the cruises to nowhere "off our shores," the commission will be taking the poker games that those cruises have, and bringing them to land via the pari-mutuels. It's the '90s. People change and ideas change; that's America.

STAN WERTHEIMER

Hollywood

Just say `no' to slogans

In response to Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby's column listing 40 reasons to just say "no" to Clinton: Here's a real challenge for you, Mr. Jacoby. Let's see if you can conjure 40 good reasons to just say "yes" to Bob Dole. And remember, I said good reasons.

I didn't think so.

DENISE SWEET

Pompano Beach

Lawmakers cheating our children

I read with great interest and appreciation your editorial on teacher and parent frustration over the Legislature's failure to adequately fund public education. It is just that frustration and a deep commitment to putting an end to this cheating of our children that has caused education organizations such as ours to seek relief. We share your respect for the Florida Constitution, but history demonstrates that democracy works only when all three branches of our government work responsibly and effectively. Florida's legislative branch has abandoned its responsibility to our children. And there is plenty of proof . Consider:

Over the past 10 years, public education's share of our state's revenues has dropped from 43 percent to 34 percent, a ten-year accumulated loss of almost $13 billion. That is equivalent to a full year and a half of funding.

At the same time, our public K-12 system has had to absorb more than 650,000 additional students. For this year alone that 8 percent loss of state funds is equal to more than $2.2 billion for our public school.

The voters approved state lotteries specifically for the purpose of providing funds that could enhance our schools, community colleges and universities. Instead the Legislature used those lottery funds to shift money from education to other purposes.

They abused the public trust and our children. This must stop. We must stop cheating our children and reclaim education's share of funding. When that happens, we can take care of the basics our schools need. We can provide safe, orderly schools with zero tolerance for disruption. We can reduce our class sizes and provide students more individual attention. In short, we can create school environments where teachers can teach and all students can learn. We believe it will take a change in the Florida Constitution to get there.

AARON WALLACE, president

Florida Teaching Profession

National Education Association

Tallahassee

Use extra lights on expressways

Logjams on our interstates and turnpikes because of accidents or overturned trucks have been a nightmare. Why can't we use the current lighting on the exit and entrance ramps, by adding amber and red lights? These lights could be controlled from a central control that could be accessed by the Highway Patrol, etc., alerting them of the accident, advising of the severity and length of time it would take to clear it up. A flashing red would mean a serious accident and to leave the highway and find another road. A flashing amber would mean minor accident with short delays.

These lights could be in the same enclosure that is curently being used. Lights of these colors could hardly be confused with traffic lights since these would be 40 or 50 feet above the traffic.

To be alerted of an accident or delay several miles ahead should certainly be a help, not to mention better access for paramedics and police backups to help the cleanup.